Adjustable vehicle seat mounting device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable seat mounting mechanism is provided between a base part and a seat support part mounted for relative fore and aft movement. An adjustment mechanism is operatively associated between the base part and the seat support part for effecting adjustment between a locking mode preventing the fore and aft movement, an isolation mode permitting limited oscillatory movement between the base part and the seat part, and an unlocking mode to permit full fore and aft adjustment of the seat. A single manually manipulatable member is provided, movable with the seat, for effecting adjustment between the three modes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and improved adjustable vehicle seatmounting mechanism and particularly to a seat suspension system whichprovides for adjusting and locking modes as well as an isolation modepermitting limited oscillatory movement of the seat.

Conventional adjustable seat devices generally include a pair oflaterally spaced, supporting apparatus having an individual latchingmechanism interconnected between the supporting apparatus andoperatively connected to a release handle. The supporting apparatusoften takes the form of an upper support attached to the seat assembly,a lower support fixed to the floor of the vehicle and some type of slidemechanism interconnecting the upper and lower supports for forward andbackward movement relative to the vehicle. A latch mechanism associatedwith the supporting apparatus permits the upper and lower supports to belocked in a position selected to accommodate the physicalcharacteristics of the occupant of the seat.

Normally, a slide assembly interconnects the upper and lower supportmembers. The slide assembly usually comprises a pair of cooperating,elongated U-shaped slide members having laterally formed portions oftheir sidewalls interconnected to one another by ball or roller bearingsarranged to provide relatively frictionless adjustment.

Some seat mounting devices of the character described include meanscommonly referred to as fore and aft isolators which permit the vehicleseat to move both forward and backward to a limited degree under thecontrol of a spring system in response to vehicle vibration. Suchisolators are operative in the locked mode of the seat suspension systemand accommodate vehicle vibration to partially isolate the seat occupantfrom such vibration.

An example of a vehicle seat suspension system which incorporates anisolator device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,258,241 to W. C. Oswald,dated June 28, 1966. In that patent, a vibrationally isolated vehicleseat suspension is disclosed and includes means which will render theisolation mechanism inoperative by directly connecting the vehicle seatto the base at a predetermined fore and aft position of the seat. Knownisolators as exemplified by Oswald have a number of drawbacks orproblems. For instance, plural control handles or levers are required tofully operate the seat suspension system. One control is provided forfore and aft seat adjustment locking, and a second control is providedfor activating or conditioning the isolator mechanism. This may beconfusing to the occupant of the seat. In addition, one of the controlsdoes not move with the seat as the seat is adjusted. This may provehazardous when the occupant tries to locate a control handle whichshould desirably move with the occupant as the seat is adjusted.

A need, therefore, exists for an adjustable vehicular seat mountingdevice which incorporates an isolator mechanism wherein the adjusting,locking and isolation modes of the device are controlled by a singlehand lever and wherein the control lever moves with the seat andoccupant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved adjustable seat mounting mechanism which incorporates isolatormeans to partially isolate a seat occupant from vibration.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable seatmounting mechanism of the character described which is simple andcontrolled by a single operating lever.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable seatmounting mechanism of the character described wherein the mechanism,including the single operating lever, moves with the seat and occupant.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, an adjustable seatmounting mechanism is disclosed and includes a slide assembly having afirst part for attachment to a fixed base structure such as the floor ofa vehicle, and a second part for attachment to a seat or other seatsupport structure. The slide assembly permits relative fore and aftmovement of the seat in respect to the base structure. Latch means isoperatively associated between the first and second parts of the slideassembly for locking the seat in a variety of fore and aft positions ofadjustment. Isolation means permits limited fore and aft oscillatorymovement of the seat while the mounting mechanism is in the lockedposition. Unitarily operable control means is operatively associatedwith the latch means and the isolation means to effect adjustment of theseat mounting mechanism between a locking mode of the latch means, anisolation mode rendering the isolation means effective, and an unlockingmode of the latch means to permit fore and aft adjustment of the seat.

The unitarily operable control means includes a single manuallymanipulatable member to effect the adjustment of the seat mountingmechanism between the aforesaid three modes.

The preferred structural embodiment of the invention disclosed hereinincludes an isolation bracket mounted on one of the parts of the slideassembly. The latch means is mounted on the isolation bracket foroscillatory movement relative thereto and for locking engagement withthe other part of the slide assembly. Centering springs are providedbetween the isolation bracket and the latch means for resilientlyresisting the oscillatory movement. Cushioned stop means is providedbetween the isolation bracket and the latch means for limiting theoscillatory movement.

The mechanism is primarily pivotally mounted, with the isolation bracketpivotally mounted on the one part of the slide assembly for moving thelatch means bodily therewith into and out of locking engagement with theother part of the slide assembly. The single manually manipulatablecontrol member comprises a hand lever pivotally mounted on the isolationbracket. The hand lever is operatively associated with the latch meansfor either permitting or preventing the oscillatory movement of thelatch means relative to the isolation bracket when the latch means is inlocking engagement with the other part of the slide assembly. The handlever further is operative to pivot the isolation bracket and therebymove the latch means out of engagement with the other part of the slideassembly.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings. Although the adjustable seat mounting mechanismis described herein as being applicable for mounting a vehicle seat, itwill be apparent that the novel features and advantages thereof areequally applicable for other seat mounting applications.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify likeelements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front, top perspective view of the adjustable seat mountingmechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear, bottom perspective view of the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the mechanism, in its locking mode;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the mechanism, in its isolation mode; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the mechanism, in its unlocked oradjustment mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 1-4, anadjustable seat mounting mechanism in accordance with the presentinvention is shown and generally designated 10. As with manyconventional adjustable vehicle seat devices, generally a pair oflaterally spaced, supporting apparatus have an individual latching meansinterconnected one to the other and operatively connected to a releasehandle. The supporting apparatus normally takes the form of an uppersupport attached to the seat assembly, a lower support fixed to thefloor of the vehicle and some type of slide mechanism interconnectingthe upper and lower supports for movement relative to the front and rearof the vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the slide assembly includes two parts comprisinga pair of complementary, elongated, U-shaped slide rails 12 and 14.Slide rail 12 comprises an upper part of the slide assembly and isadapted for securing to the vehicle seat or other vehicle seat supportsystem. Slide rail 14 comprises a lower part of the slide assembly forattachment to a fixed base structure such as the floor of a vehicle.Laterally formed portions 12a of slide rail 12 and 14a of slide rail 14interconnect the slide rail and sandwich ball bearings 16 (FIG. 3)between the laterally formed portions. A movable positioning plate 18also positions roller bearings 20 between upper and lower slide rails 12and 14, respectively. This slide rail assembly construction is generallyconventional and permits relative fore and aft movement of the seat inrespect to the base structure.

The adjustable seat mounting mechanism of the present invention isunitarily controlled for effecting adjustment of the seat between alocking mode, an isolation mode and an unlocking mode of adjustment.More particularly, the mechanism includes an isolation bracket,generally designated 22, a latch plate 34 and a single manuallymanipulated hand lever 26.

Isolation bracket 22 is pivotally mounted at 28 (FIG. 1) to upper sliderail 12, at the rear of the bracket. The front of the bracket has a slot30 extending transversely of the upper slide rail and through which aguide bolt 32 extends. The guide bolt has an enlarged head portion 32aoverlying the isolation bracket on opposite sides of slot 30 to hold thebracket in stabilized position against the upper slide rail but topermit movement of the bolt within slot 30 as the bracket pivots aboutbolt 28.

As best seen in FIG. 2, latch plate 34 generally is mounted on isolationbracket 22 for movement bodily therewith in the direction ofdoubled-headed arrow A (FIG. 2) relative to slide rails 12, 14. Thispivotal movement of the isolation bracket and the latch plate moveslocking teeth 36 into and out of engagement with locking holes 38 inlower slide rail 14. It can be seen that an elongated notch 40 is cutout of one of the laterally, inwardly formed portions of upper sliderail 12 in order to accommodate limited fore and aft movement of latchplate 34 and locking teeth 36 relative to the upper slide rail. Thisaccommodates the limited oscillatory movement in the isolation mode ofthe mechanism, as described in greater detail hereinafter.

Thus, latch plate 34, with its locking teeth 36, is moved into and outof locking engagement with lower slide rail 14 by pivoting isolationbracket 22 about bolt 28 relative to upper slide rail 12.

Still referring to FIG. 2, latch plate 34 is mounted on isolationbracket 22 for limited oscillatory movement relative thereto, and thuslimited oscillatory movement between the upper and lower slide railswhile the rails are in locked condition. More particularly, isolationbracket 22 has two end flanges 42, a slide flange 44 and a cut-outelongated aperture, generally designated 46. Four centering springs 48are secured between end flanges 42 and latch plate 34 to resist theoscillatory movement. A slider block 50 (FIG. 3) is interlocked to latchplate 34 by a shoulder bolt 52 having an enlarged head portion 54 on thetop of the mechanism and a nut 56 on the bottom of the mechanism. Theslider block is fabricated of plastic material and portions thereof canbe seen through small apertures 58 (FIG. 2) in latch plate 34. Theslider block moves with the latch plate 34 and is guided for movementrelative to isolation bracket 22 by a pair of generally parallel flanges60 of the isolation bracket defining the sides of aperture 46 in thebracket.

Stop means is provided between the isolation bracket and the latch platefor limiting the relative oscillatory movement therebetween. Moreparticularly, a pair of small flanges 62 are inwardly turned fromisolation bracket 22 at opposite ends of aperture 46. Rubber cushioningbumpers 64 are carried by flanges 66 of latch plate 34 for abutting thestop flanges 62 for cushioning the oscillatory movement at the extremeends thereof.

Unitarily operable control means is operatively associated between latchplate 34 and isolation bracket 22 to effect adjustment of the seatmounting mechanism 10 between a locking mode of the latch plate, anisolation mode to permit limited oscillatory movement while in thelocking mode, and an unlocking mode of the latch plate to permit fullfore and aft adjustment of the seat. More particularly, the unitarycontrol means includes single hand lever 26 which is manuallymanipulatable to effect adjustment between the three modes.

Referring to FIG. 1, hand lever 26 is pivoted by a pivot pin 68 toisolation bracket 22 forwardly of the bracket and the hand lever. Therear of the lever has a slightly arcuate slot 70 extending generallytransversely to slide rails 12, 14 and through which a stationary pin 72extends. Pin 72 is fixed to isolation bracket 22 near the rear thereof.A third pin 74 is fixed to hand lever 26 forwardly of pin 72 and anover-center spring 76 is secured between pins 72, 74.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a T-shaped slot, generally designated 78, isformed in hand lever 26 between pins 68 and 74. The slot has a crossportion 80 and a leg portion 82 and is dimensioned to capture shoulderbolt 52 therewithin, with the enlarged head portion 54 of the shoulderbolt overlying the top of hand lever 26 about the periphery of the slot.As will be understood hereinafter, cross portion 80 of the T-shaped slotpermits relative oscillatory movement of the latch plate and lower sliderail in the oscillatory mode of the mechanism, while leg portion 82 ofthe T-shaped slot prevents the oscillatory movement.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, the operation of the adjustable seatmounting mechanism of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the mechanism in its locked, non-oscillatory condition. Itcan be seen that the front of isolation bracket 22 has been pivotedabout pin 28 in the direction of arrow "B" to an extreme positionwherein locking teeth 36 of latch plate 34 are in engagement withselected ones of notches 38 in the lower slide rail. In this position,hand lever 26 is in a position about pivot pin 68 so as to seat shoulderbolt 52 in the leg portion 82 of T-shaped slot 80 in the hand lever. Inthis position, the bolt prevents any oscillatory movement between thelatch plate and the isolation bracket. This also prevents any relativemovement between the upper and lower slide rails. Hand lever 26 ismaintained in this position by over-center spring 76.

In order to adjust the mechanism to its isolation mode, reference ismade to FIG. 6. In this position, isolation bracket 22 and latch plate34 still are in their locked condition, but hand lever 26 has been movedin the direction of arrow "C", about pivot pin 68, so as to positionshoulder bolt 52 in cross portion 80 of T-shaped slot 78. In order tomove to this position, over-center spring 76 is overcome while pin 72moves within slot 70 of the hand lever. In the isolation mode of FIG. 6,limited oscillatory movement of latch plate 34 relative to isolationbracket 22 is permitted under the resistance of biasing springs 48.Consequently, limited oscillatory movement is afforded between upper andlower slide rails 12 and 14, respectively. In the isolation mode, latchplate 34 still remains in locked condition with the lower slide rail, asshown in FIG. 6. It should be understood that hand lever 26 can be movedback and forth between the fully locked mode of FIG. 5 and the isolationmode of FIG. 6 as exemplified by the arrows B and C.

In order to adjust the position of the upper and lower slide rails, andthus adjust the position of the seat, hand lever 26 is moved in thedirection of arrow "D" as shown in FIG. 7, to pivot isolation bracket 22and the entire mechanism about pin 28. In moving to this position,shoulder bolt 52 moves into the leg portion of T-shaped slot 78 and theisolation bracket is moved against the force of a latch spring 90 fixedbetween the isolation bracket and upper slide rail 12. By overcoming thebiasing force of latch spring 90, isolation bracket 22 moves latch plate34 bodily therewith. Consequently, locking teeth 36 of the latch plateare moved out of locking engagement with the notches of the lower sliderail, and the mechanism can be selectively adjusted to a new position ofthe seat. On release of hand lever 26, latch spring 90 will pivot theisolation bracket and latch plate back to the locking mode of FIG. 5,whereupon the mechanism can be easily adjusted into and out of itsisolation mode of FIG. 6.

Thus, it can be seen that a new and improved adjustable seat mountingmechanism has been provided to afford three distinct modes of operation;a locking mode of the latch means, an isolation mode rendering theisolation means effective, and an unlocking mode of the latch means topermit full fore and aft adjustment of the seat. The mechanism iscontrolled through a single manually manipulatable member, and thecontrol mechanism, including the manual hand lever, moves with the seatat all times.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable seat mounting mechanism,comprising:a slide assembly having a first part for attachment to afixed base structure and a second part for attachment to a seat or seatsupport structure to permit relative fore and aft movement of the seatin respect to the base structure; latch means mounted on said secondpart for movement with said seat and for locking engagement with saidfirst part to lock said seat in a variety of fore and aft positions ofadjustment; isolation means mounted on said second part for movementwith said seat and permitting limited fore and aft movement of said seatwhile in locked position; and unitarily operable control means mountedon said second part for movement with said seat and operativelyassociated with said latch means and said isolation means to effectadjustment of the seat mounting mechanism between a locking mode of saidlatch means, an isolation mode rendering said isolation means effective,and an unlocking mode of said latch means to permit fore and aftadjustment of the seat.
 2. The adjustable seat mounting mechanism ofclaim 1 wherein said control means includes a single manuallymanipulatable member to effect said adjustment of the seat mountingmechanism between said three modes.
 3. The adjustable seat mountingmechanism of claim 2 wherein said single manually manipulatable membercomprises a pivoted hand lever.
 4. The adjustable seat mountingmechanism of claim 1 wherein said isolation means includes an isolationbracket mounted on the second part of said slide assembly, and saidlatch means is mounted on said isolation bracket for oscillatorymovement relative thereto and for locking engagement with the first partof said slide assembly.
 5. The adjustable seat mounting mechanism ofclaim 4, including biasing means between said isolation bracket and saidlatch means for resiliently resisting said oscillatory movement.
 6. Theadjustable seat mounting mechanism of claim 4, including stop meansbetween said isolation bracket and said latch means for limiting saidoscillatory movement.
 7. The adjustable seat mounting mechanism of claim6 wherein said stop means includes cushion means.
 8. The adjustable seatmounting mechanism of claim 4 wherein said isolation bracket ispivotally mounted on the second part of the slide assembly for movingsaid latch means bodily therewith into and out of locking engagementwith the first part of said slide assembly.
 9. The adjustable seatmounting mechanism of claim 1, including biasing means resisting saidlimited fore and aft movement of said seat.
 10. An adjustable seatmounting mechanism, comprising:a slide assembly having a first part forattachment to a fixed base structure and a second part for attachment toa seat or seat support structure to permit relative fore and aftmovement of the seat in respect to the base structure; latch meansoperatively associated between said first and second parts of said slideassembly for locking said seat in a variety of fore and aft positions ofadjustment; isolation means permitting limited fore and aft movement ofsaid seat while in locked position, said isolation means including anisolation bracket pivotally mounted on one part of the slide assembly,said latch means being mounted on said isolation bracket for oscillatorymovement relative thereto, said isolation bracket moving said latchmeans bodily therewith into and out of locking engagement with the otherpart of said slide assembly; and unitarily operable control meansoperatively associated with said latch means and said isolation means toeffect adjustment of the seat mounting mechanism between a locking modeof said latch means, an isolation mode rendering said isolation meanseffective, and an unlocking mode of said latch means to permit fore andaft adjustment of the seat, including a control lever pivotally mountedon said isolation bracket, said control lever having means operativelyassociated with said latch means for either permitting or preventingsaid oscillatory movement of said latch means when in locking engagementwith the other part of said slide assembly, said control lever furtherbeing operative to pivot said isolation bracket and move said latchmeans out of engagement with the other part of said slide assembly. 11.The adjustable seat mounting mechanism of claim 10 wherein said means onsaid control lever comprises a T-shaped slot for receiving a portion ofsaid latch means, the cross of the T-shaped slot permitting saidoscillatory movement of the latch means and the leg of the T-shaped slotpreventing said oscillatory movement of the latch means.
 12. Theadjustable seat mounting mechanism of claim 10 wherein said isolationbracket is mounted on the second part of said slide assembly formovement with said seat.
 13. A seat suspension system comprising:a basepart; a seat support part mounted for relative fore and aft movement inrespect to said base part; and an adjustment assembly entirely mountedon said seat support part for movement with the seat for effectingadjustment of the seat suspension system between a locking modeengageable with said base part and preventing said fore and aftmovement, an isolation mode permitting limited oscillatory movementbetween said base part and said seat support part, and an unlocking modeto permit fore and aft adjustment of the seat, and including a singlemanually manipulatable member for effecting said adjustment between saidthree modes.
 14. The seat suspension system of claim 13 wherein saidsingle manually manipulatable member comprises a pivoted hand lever. 15.The seat suspension system of claim 13 wherein said adjustment assemblyincludes an isolation bracket mouned on said seat support part, andlatch means mounted on said isolation bracket for oscillatory movemntrelative thereto and for locking engagement with the base part.
 16. Theseat suspension system of claim 15, including biasing means between saidisolation bracket and said latch means for resiliently resisting saidoscillatory movement.
 17. The seat suspension system of claim 15,including stop means between isolation bracket and said latch means forlimiting said oscillatory movement.
 18. The seat suspension system ofclaim 17 wherein said stop means includes cushion means.
 19. The seatsuspension system of claim 15 wherein said isolation bracket ispivotally mounted on said seat support part for moving said latch meansbodily therewith into and out of locking engagement with the base part.20. The seat suspension system of claim 13, including biasing meansresisting said limited fore and aft movement of said seat.
 21. A seatsuspension system comprising:a base part; a seat support part mountedfor relative fore and aft movement in respect to said base part; andadjustment means operatively associated between said base part and saidseat support part for effecting adjustment of the seat suspension systembetween a locking mode preventing said fore and aft movement, anisolation mode permitting limited oscillatory movement between said basepart and said seat support part, and an unlocking mode to permit foreand aft adjustment of the seat, said adjustment means including anisolation bracket pivotally mounted on one of said parts, latch meanspivotally mounted on said isolation bracket for oscillatory movementrelative thereto and for movement bodily therewith into and out oflocking engagement with the other part, a single manually manipulatablecontrol lever pivotally mounted on said isolation bracket, said controllever having means operatively associated with said latch means foreither permitting or preventing said oscillatory movement of said latchmeans when in locking engagement with said other part, said controllever further being operative to pivot said isolation bracket and movesaid latch means out of engagement with said other part.
 22. The seatsuspension system of claim 21 wherein said isolation bracket and controllever are mounted on said seat support part for movement with the seat.